IDA/HENRI BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
The Ida/Henri Business Assistance Grant Program provides short-term, immediate August rent or mortgage reimbursement support to New Jersey small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits that have suffered physical damage as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Henri on August 22nd or 23rd, 2021 and/or Hurricane Ida on September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 2021.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The pilot Ida/Henri Business Assistance Grant Program is a support measure to help businesses and nonprofits impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Henri and/or Hurricane Ida.
The program will provide grants from $1,000 up to $5,000 to New Jersey-based businesses and nonprofits that have up to 50 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) as reported on their last WR-30 form (Q2 2021) with the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) and have a physical commercial location in New Jersey that suffered physical damage as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Henri and/or Hurricane Ida.
The program is currently funded with $10,500,000 and may increase to $15 million. One-third of the initial request and one-third of the subsequent request (if necessary) will be reserved for entities in a census tract that was eligible to be selected as a New Jersey Opportunity Zone, but can be released back into the general program if demand from businesses and nonprofits in these areas has been met. Furthermore, $500,000 will be set aside for businesses and nonprofits impacted by Hurricane Henri, but can be released back into the general program pool if demand from these entities has been met.
The pilot program may be expanded if additional funds become available.
ELIGIBILITY
The Ida/Henri Business Assistance Grant Program is open to businesses and nonprofits that meet the following eligibility requirements. Home-based businesses and landlords ARE NOT eligible.
Entities can submit only one application per EIN. Accordingly, businesses with multiple locations but only one EIN will be limited to one application.
Eligibility Requirements
- Up to 50 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) based on the Q2 2021 recent New Jersey WR-30 filing with the New Jersey Department of Labor (DOL).
- August rent or mortgage payment of at least $1,000.
- Damages or revenue loss as a result of Hurricane Henri and/or Hurricane Ida that is greater than $1,000.
- A physical commercial location in the State of New Jersey (e.g., an office, a physical point of sales, a warehouse, manufacturing facility, etc.).
- Registered to do business in the State of New Jersey at the time of application, as evidenced by a valid Business Registration Certificate, if required.
- Satisfies the New Jersey Department of Taxation’s requirement that the business or nonprofit does not have tax debts due to the State. This may be accomplished through a certification from the applicant that it does not owe any taxes and will be subject to repayment if the certification is not correct.
- In good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD), the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) (if applicable), the Department of Children and Families (DCF) (if applicable), and the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) (if applicable) at the time of application.
The CEO or equivalent officer of the business or nonprofit must also self-certify that the entity was in operation on August 1, 2021 and sustained physical damage as a result of Hurricane Henri and/or Hurricane Ida on September 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd, 2021.
Additional eligibility requirements will apply to ensure that federal funds, if available, can be used for this program or to reimburse the NJEDA for use of its funds for this program. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Applicants must acknowledge and agree to the requirement that grant proceeds be can only be used for eligible uses as defined by the NJEDA.
- A restriction on duplication of benefits that could exclude potential applicants that have already received emergency Ida assistance.
- A requirement that the applicant demonstrate that it has had physical damage as a result of Ida. Demonstration of physical damage includes, but is not limited to, flooding, interior or exterior damage to the building structure, roof damage, and siding damage, all of which are directly related to Ida. Power loss alone WILL NOT be considered physical damage.
Businesses that are NOT eligible include, but are not limited to: gambling or gaming activities; the conduct or purveyance of “adult” (i.e., pornographic, lewd, prurient, obscene or otherwise similarly disreputable) activities, services, products or materials (including nude or semi-nude performances or the sale of sexual aids or devices); any auction or bankruptcy or fire or “lost-our-lease” or “going-out-of-business” or similar sales; sales by transient merchants, Christmas tree sales or other outdoor storage; any activity constituting a nuisance; or any illegal purposes.
AWARD SIZE & ELIGIBLE USES
The Ida/Henri Business Assistance Grant Program will provide grants equal to an eligible applicant’s demonstrated unmet need for support of August rent/mortgage payment up to a cap of $5,000.
An applicant’s unmet need will be determined based on estimated damages, as certified by the applicant, and revenue loss based on shuttered business operations, also certified by the applicant.
Grants received through this program can be used to pay for August rent or mortgage only and will be disbursed solely as reimbursement. Capital expenses, such as remediation or construction, ARE NOT eligible uses of funding.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Online applications for the Ida/Henri Business Assistance Grant Program closed at 5:00 p.m. on September 24th, 2021. Those who submitted an application can check their status at programs.njeda.com.
NJEDA staff will review applications on a first-come, first-served basis, based upon the date in which the Authority received a completed application submission.
Businesses whose applications are denied will have the right to appeal. Appeals must be filed within the timeframe set in the declination letter (which must be at least 3 days but no longer than 10 days).